Mantle plume, large igneous province and continental breakup

Abstract

Based on the former workers’ study results such as numerical simulation of fluid mechanics, seismic tomography of the whole earth and igneous rocks, the basic characteristics of mantle plumes are summarized in detail, namely the mantle plume, from the D″ layer near the core-mantle boundary (CMB) of 2900 km deep, is characterized by the shape of large head and thin narrow conduit, by the physical property of high temperature and low viscosity. The LIP (large igneous province) is the best exhibition when the mantle plume ascends to the surface. According to the basic characteristics of the mantle plumes and the LIP, as well as the temporal-spatial relationships between the mantle plume and continental breakup, the detailed research on petrology, geochemistry, temporal-spatial distribution, tectonic background of the Cenozoic-Mesozoic igneous rocks and gravity anomaly distribution in East China has been done. As a result, the Mesozoic igneous rocks in Southeast China should not be regarded as an example of typical LIP related to mantle plumes, for their related characteristics are not consistent with those of the typical LIPs related to mantle plumes. The Cenozoic igneous rocks in Northeast China have no the typical characteristics of mantle plumes and hotspots, so the Cenozoic volcanism in Northeast China might have no the direct relationships with the activity of mantle plumes.